Method and machine for drawing or pulling wire



- Jan. 28,111936;l G. N. WILLIAMS d 2,029,206

METIf-IOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. l2, 1933 l5 Sheets-Sheet l G. N. WILLIAMS 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. l2, 1933 Jan. 28, 1936.

Imaz-ENTER- Jan. 28, 1936. G, N. wiLLlAMs METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Jan. 28, 1936.l G. N. WILLIAMS METHOD AND MAC'HINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Fled Aug. 12, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 236 INVENTDE.-

Jan. 28, 1936. G. N. WILLIAMS 2,029,206

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed'Aug. '12, 19:53 15 sheets-sheep@ l Y I I.

lHYENTDE- Jan. 28, 1936. G. N. WILLIAMS METHODAND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. l2, 1933l 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 28, 1936. G. N. wlLLlAMs 2,029,206

l .METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRWING 0R PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. l2', 1935 i 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 v /Pa INVENI ma..

Jan.. 2s, 1936. .Gp N. WILLIAMS METHON AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. 12, 1933 l5 Sheets-$1196?,v 8

INYENTQH- 3 5 w 2 ww .1 .9 n 8 Jan. 2s, 193e.

G. N. WILLIAMS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. 12, 1933 l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 ao /P Inv-ENTER.

Jan. 28, 1936. N, WILLIAMS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. l2, 1933 13 Sheets-Sheet l0 INV-ENTER..

Jan- 28, 1936- G. N. WILLIAMS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING' WIRE Filed Aug. l2, '1953 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 INYEHTDE..

Jan. 28, 1936. G. N. WILLIAMS 2,029,206

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Filed Aug. 12, 1955 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 l -EE- Jan. 28, 1936. GL N. WILLIAMS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Aug. 12, 1933 Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR DRAWING OR PULLING WIRE Application August 12, 1933, Serial No. 684,818

55 Claims.

This invention relates -to a method and machine for drawing or pulling wire, and, in particular, to continuous wire drawing or pulling machines.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide; for continuously drawing wire; for automatically discharging a predetermined amount of finished wire from the machine without the necessity of stopping the machine; for regulating the speed ratio between certain of the drawing blocks; for automatically drawing predetermined weights and lengths of wire, especially extra heavy weights and extra long lengths; for automatically stopping the machine if the wire should break; for pulling wire where no dies are used and usually single pulling blocks, such as would be used on a wire coating take-up unit.

For the purpose of illustrating and explaining my invention, I show and describe a wire drawing machine having a multiple of drawing blocks preferably of the inverted type. It is understood, however, that this disclosure is not intended as a limitation, as more or less blocks may be used, and some blocks may be inverted and others not, as the case may be.

'I'hat theinvention may be more fully understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, illustrating a preferred embodiment ofl this invention, in which: Y

Figure l is a side elevational View of my wire drawing machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial front elevational view ofl parts shown in Figure 1; A

Figure 3 is an enlarged topplan View of parts shown in Figure 1; ,Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of parts shown in Figure v2, certain parts being broken away and shown in cross-section; Y

Figure is a sectional elevational view as the same would appear if taken on line 5 5, of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an-enlarged sectional plan view, as the same would appear if taken along the line 6 6, of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a' sectional elevational view as seen along lines 1 1, Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view similar to Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional elevational View as seen along line 9 9, Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; Y

Figure 10 is a sectional plan view similar to Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional elevational view taken on line I i--I I, Figure 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 12 is a sectional elevational view taken on line I2-I2, Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on line I3-I3, Figure 10;

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken substantially along line I4-I4, Figure 12;

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts appearing in Figure 14 showing the clutch tongue in its operating position;

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 15 showing the clutch tongue in its inoperative position;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the clutch tongue, partially shown in Figure 14;

Figure 18 is a sectional plan view as the same would appear if taken along lines I8-I8, Figure 4;

' Figure 19 is a plan view, certain parts appearing in cross-section, as the same would appear if taken on line I9-I9, Figure 4;

Figure 20 is a plan View, certain parts appearing in cross-section as seen along line 20-20, Figure 4;

Figure 21 is an enlarged-sectional view of one of the sheave members taken on line 2I-2I Figure 1;

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view showing substantially the method employed in training and controlling the tension of the wire with respect to the drawing operation; l I

Figure 23 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical control circuits associated with operating members and prime mover, and

Figure 24 is an additional wiring diagram showing the electrical control circuits associated with the wire cutting device and bundle discharge.

member.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Frame structure able bolt 251.

Member I I is adapted to act as a transverse bracing means for. support members 2 and 2a at their tops. For the purpose of longitudinal support are the members I2 and I3 secured to cross members 8 and by means of bolts I4. Further longitudinal support and bracing is obtained by means of member I5 secured to cross member by bolts I6 and to the top of member 3 by bolts I1. l

These members comprise lthe principaLsu'pporting and reinforcing elements of my machine and provide the means for obtaining strength and rigidity. Subsidiary supporting means will appear as the description proceeds.

Wire drawing blocks The wire drawing blocks |8,Y |9, 20 and 2| are adapted to revolve around the vertical hollow shaft 22. Said shaft 22 is positioned at its upper end by means of member 8 and supported near its lower end by member |63 secured to members I and Ia by bolts |64. Blocks I8 and I9 and bearing |65 revolve as one unit about shaft 22. Just below block I9, secured also to shaft 22, is end thrust support bearing |66.

Block 20 having bearingl` |61 secured thereto is vadapted to revolve around shaft 22, said bearing |61 being also adapted to take the end thrust of said block. The bottom of said bearing rests on member |68 and is supported by shoulder |69 of shaft 22, said shoulder beingcarried by member |63 to support shaft 22.

Block 2| having bearing |161 secured thereto, is the finishing block of the series and is adapted to revolve around shaft 22. Secured also to shaft 22 near the lower end of said shaft is split ring I 1| carried in annular groove |12 of shaft 22.4 Supported on said ring |1'| is ball race |13 carrying ball bearings |14, the latter being adapted-to take the end thrust of block 2|. Ring 1| and ball race |13 are stationary, so that block 2 Il when revolving, is adapted to revolve with solid bearing |10, the end thrust being taken by ball bearings |14.

Secured tothe frame support` I by means of bolts 260 is arm 256 bent at right angles at its upper end into a bifrcated section adapted to holdroller 258 therebetween by means of a suit- Carried on bolts 268 and spaced between frame support ,and the upright portion of arm 256 are springs 259 adapted to maintain tension against arm 256 and roller 258,' the latter being held in yieldable relation against the wire on the upper part of block 2|, thereby pre` venting the wire from sliding .down the 'block u ntil it passes said roller 58,. thus preventing the formation of loose coils of wire about said Driving means and clutch mechanism The foin` drawing blocks |8, 9, 20 and 2| all revolve about the common hollow shaft 22.-

Blocks I8 and I9 are revolved as one unit and at y one speed, whereas, blocks 20 and 2| are revolved as separate and independentunits, and each of the latter two blocks may be revolved at two different speeds for purposes to be later described. The means by which said drawing blocks are revolved and the clutch and gear mechanism for engage either gear 34 or 35 is clutch 31, ,said

clutches being slidably keyed to shaft 25 and are adapted to be operated by means of clutch operating thrustors 38 and 39, respectively.

Thrustor 39 is mounted on pedestal 42 secured to member 3 by means of bolts 44. Keyed to shaft 25 near its lower end is the bevel gear 45 meshed with pinion 46 driven by prime mover 41, such for instance, as an electric motor or other suitable power means. Keyed also to shaft 25 near its upper end is driving gear 48.

In meshed relation with driving gear 48 is gear 59 keyed to shaft 54 journaled in bearings 63 and 64 mounted in brackets 5| secured to support members 2 and 2a. Gear 59, in turn, engages in constant meshed relation with gear 62 of drawing blocks I8 and I9.

Driving gear 35 having bearing 84, thrust bearing 86, and thrust collar 85 associated therewith. is meshed with gear 58; and driving gear 34 having bearing 81 and'thrust bearing 88 and thrust collar 89 associated therewith, is meshed with gear 51, winch, in turn, is in constant meshed engagement with gear 6| of drawing block 2|).

Gears 51 and 58 are keyed to shaft 53 which is journaled in bearing 65 mounted on bracket 58 and attached to members 2 and 2a, below and in offset relation to bracket 5| and its assembly.

v Separating the assemblies of gears 34 and 35I from the assemblies of gears 32 and 33, and carried on shaft 25 is spacer 96.

In meshed relation with driving gear 33 having bearing 90, thrust collar 9| and thrust bearing 92 associated therewith, is gear y56, which, -in turn, is in constant meshed engagement with gear 60 of drawing block 2 In meshed engagement with driving gear 32 having bearing 93, thrust collar 94 and thrust bearing 95 associated therewith, is gear 55. Gears 55 and 56 are keyed to shaft 52, the latter being journaled in bearing 66 mounted in bracket 49,'attached to members 2 and 2a, below and in .offset relation to assemblies of brackets 50 and 5|.

Slidably keyed to shaft 25 are the clutches 36 and 31, the former adapted to engage driving gear 33 when said clutchv36 is in its upper engaging position and to engage driving gear 32 when in its lower engaging position. Clutch 31,

Both clutches 36 and 31 maybe positioned to idle or neutralpositionas shown in Figure 5, and are adapted to be vautomatically operated by thrustors 38 and 39, as will be later described.

Clutch'engaging lever 68 is fulcrumly pivoted on pivot 69 mounted-on bracket 1D attached to member 3 by bolts 1|, said lever adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly by reverse movements of shaft 12 of thrustor 38 attached to lever 68 by means of clevis 13. Clutch lever 68 is over-balanced for the weight of clutch 36 by Weight 14'secured to said lever by hanger 15.

Clutch engaging lever 16 is fulcrumly pivoted on pivot11 mounted on bracket 18 which is attached to member 3, said lever being adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly by reverse movements of shaft of thrustor 39 attached to lever 16 by means of clevis 8|. Clutch lever 16 is over-balanced for the weight of clutch 31 by weight 82 secured to said lever by hanger 83.

The operation of the drawing block driving means, therefore, is as follows:

Pinion 46 driven by the prime mover 41 causes gear 45 to revolve and, in so doing, revolves shaft 25. With clutches 36 and 31 in their neutral positions, as best seen in Figures 1 and 5, the clutches revolve ineffectively with shaft but driving gears 32, 33, 34 and 35 do not revolve. Gear 48 being keyed to shaft 25, and independent of any clutch mechanism, revolves at all times with said shaft, and consequently drawing blocks I8 and |9 are caused to revolve continuously therewith. As will appear more fully later, the

. only necessity for stopping blocks I8 and I9 is when it becomes necessary to rethread the wire due to breakage or for some other cause.

When clutch 31 is caused to engage with gear 34, then gear 51 is actuated and revolves block 20, thru gear 6|, above normal speed. Inasmuch as shaft 53 will also be revolved, gear 58 also revolves and, in turn, will revolve gear 35, the latter, in this case, however being an idling gear and not a driver.

However, when clutch 31 is caused to engage with gear 35, then the latter becomes the driving gear and, thru gear 58 and shaft 53, drives gear 51 and block 20 thru gear 6|, but at a speed below normal due to the diierence in the gear ratios shown. When gear 35 is the driving gear, then gear 34 is an idler.

Similarly, when clutch 36 is caused to engage with gear 33, the latter drives gear 56, thus imparting rotation to gear 60 and causing block 2| to revolve above normal speed. Gear 56 when revolving causes shaft 52 to revolve and so revolves gear 55, gear 32 thereby being an idler. Similarly, when-clutch 36 is caused to engage with gear 32, the latter becomes the driving gear, revolving block 2| thru gear 55, shaft 52, gear 56 and gear 60, thus causing block 2| to be rotatively driven below normal speed.

The clutch moving means and the resultant gear changes will now be described in connection with the wire tensioning means, the latter being the means through which the clutch movements are caused to operate.

Wire tensioning means and. drawing block speed regulation Secured to frame member 2 by means of bolts 91 1is support 98 upon which are mounted tubular members 99 and |00 surmounted by plate |0| upon which is mounted pulley |02. Mounted bee tween the tubular members 99 andv |00 is a sheave |03 adapted to slide up an'd down therebetween. Secured to extension arms |04 of the sheave housing |05 arethe shafts |06 adapted to have the rollers |01 revolve thereabout on bearings |08. The sheave |03 revolves about shaft |09 on bearing |I0, said shaft being mounted in sheave housing |05. 'Ihis is best seen in Figure 2'1. The sheave housing |05 and its assembly is overbalanced by a weight ||I connected with eye I I3 of housing |05 by means of a cable II2 which passes over pulley |02.

Suitably secured to the sheave housing |05 is a trip pin I|4 adapted to contact and operate switches ||5, II6, II1, said switches being adjustably mounted on 'the tubular member |00, and Vadapted automatically to put into operation the means for controlling the rotational speed of drawing' block 2|, in a manner to be later described.

Secured to frame member I by means of bolts I I8 is support I |9 upon which are mounted tubular members |20 and |2I surmounted by plate |22 upon which is mounted pulley |23. Mounted between the tubular members |20 and I2| is a sheave |24 adapted to slide up and down therebetween. The construction assembly of sheave |24 is preferably like that shown for sheave |03- see Figure 21. Sheave |24 and its assembly is likewise overbalanced by s, weight |25 connected with eye |26 by cable |21 passing over pulley |23.

Suitably secured to the housing of sheave |24 is a trip pin |28 adapted to engage and operate switch |29 mounted on the tubular member |20. Also secured to said housing is a trip pin |30 adapted to engage and operate switches |3| and |32. The operation of switches |29 and |3| controls the speed of drawing block 20 and the operation of switch |32 controls the operation of the machine as will be later described.

. pulley |36, then through die |5| held in die housing |31, said pulley |36 and housing |31 being mounted on support |49, best seen in Figure l. From die |5I, the wire passes a few coils around drawing block I 9, then under guide pulley |38 mounted on support ||9, and then upwards around sheave |24 and downwardly under guide pulley |39 and guide pulley |40, the latter being mounted on support |52 attached to member I by means of bolts |53. The Wire then passes through die |54, held in housing |4| mounted on support attached to member by bolts |60, and then a few coils around drawing block 20. From here the wire passes under pulley |42, then upwards around sheave |03, from which it passes downwardly under guide pulley 43, then under pulley |44 mounted in housing |56 attached to member by bolts |51, and from the latter pulley, said wire' passes through die |58 held in housing |45 mounted on support |59 attached to member I by means of bolts |6I.

As was previously described, drawing blocks 20 and 2| each have two changeable speeds, one speed above the theoretical speed for the gauge of the respective wire being drawn thereby and the amount of reduction per draw, and a second speed which is below said theoretical speed.

The manner in which these speeds are controlled by the loops of wire passing around the respective` sheaves |24 and |03 will now be described. .Y

For V-this purpose, consider the wire passing from drawing block I9 under pulley |38, up and over sheave |24, under pulley |39, under pulley |40, thru wire drawing die |54 on .to drawing block 20. With clutch 31 engaging driving gear 35, block 20 will be rotated on slow speed (below lift, thus disengaging clutch 31 from gear 35 tated thereby about the clutch member |86.

and engaging said clutch with its other gear 34.

The shifting of said gears causes block 20 to be rotatively driven above normal speed and consequently more wire is drawn by block 20l than is being delivered to the loop from block |9.

Therefore sheave |24 will be pulled slowly downward until it engages switch |29. This engagement causes magnetic switch |46 to be energized and stops the motor, not shown, in thrustor 39, thereby allowing weight 82 to pull lever 16 down= wardly, thus disengaging clutch 31 from gear 34 Iand engaging said clutch with gear 35, which again causes block 20 to rotate at the slow (below normal?- speed.

In van exactly similar manner, the loopbetween blocks 20 and 2| passing around puiley |42, sheave |03, pulleys |43 and |44 causes changes inthe speed of drawing block 2| by acting through magnetic switch |46a, thrustor 38, levez` 68 and clutch 36, except for t le difference pref viously noted, that the high speed driving gear 33 is locatedabove slow speed gear 32 lwl'iich is the reverse of gears 34and 35 of block 20.

Block 2|, by reason of its driving gear connections to have a greater range of speed than block 20, that is, the slow speed of block 2| is slower in proportion to normal speed, and its high speed faster in proportion to normal speed than for block 20. Foi this reason wire cannot be fed faster or slower to block 2| than said block can accommodate.

If the wire W should break between block |9 and 20, sheave |24 will immediately be released and actuated by weight |25, and will be drawn rapidly in an upward directionV to engage switch |32 which opens the circuit in the main drive motor switch |62 and stops the operation of the machine.

In an exactly similar manner, a. break in wire vW between block 20 and block 2| will cause sheave |03 to rise and engage switch H1 which,

acting similarly through switch |62, will stop the Wire cutting and discharging mechanisms `Secured to block 2| by means o f bolts |15 and adapted to revolve therewith, are four vertical channeled frame members |16. Secured to the bottom of the stationary shaft 22 by means of machine bolts |11 is a plate |18. Ri idlyy and centrally suspended from said plate |1 and sep'- arated therefrom by collar |19, is stationary pinion engaged in meshed relation with a revolvable ring gear |8 I. It will be understood that upon rotation of the-block 2|, member |18, support |82 and the assembly mounted thereupon will be likewise rotated therewith' and such rotation causes the ring gear |8| which is in meshed relation with the stationary pinion |80 to be ro- Secured` to two opposite members |16 is support E82. Mounted on said support are brackets |83. Journaled in housings |84, carried on said brackets, is shaft |85 to which is keyed clutch member |86 on which oats ring gear |8|, the latter being part of clutch assembly designated |81. Secured to shaft |85 is crank |88, having crank rod aoeaaoe |89 attached thereto. Carried also therewith is wire-engaging finger 208 guided in a tapered slot in housing le! secured to a member |16, housing |9| also having cut-off blade |90 secured thereto.

Secured at one of its ends to support member |92 a stop-pin arm |93, its lower end swinging free and having attached thereto a lever arm |94, the latter being pinned to an actuating arm |95. Thelatter'arm is rockably secured to a member |16 at |96 and isv connected at its upper end with a solenoid |61, so that it may be moved thereby. Also attached to arm |95 by clevis |98, is a bar |99, the latter being held plate 200 secured to said member |16 and lhaving a short bent leg 20| formed therein. Supportedl by bar |99 and lying between clevis |98 and leg 20| is compression spring 202 adapted through arm |95, lever |92 and stop-pin arm |93 to keep the latter in position `against movement of clutch pin dog 203 and of clutch assembly |81, until` solenoid |91 is actuated and pulls stop-pin arm |93 away from dog I03 and allows clutch |81 to function. The clutch, per se is shown in Figures 14, l5, 16 and 17,.t11e inner member |86 being secured to shaft |85 and member 204 and ring gear |8| being loosely mounted on member |86. When stop-pin |93 is drawn back by action of solenoid |91, dog 203 is pulled forward by spring 205, thus tilting clutch tongue 206 upward to engage one of slots 201 in member 204 and thereby causing member |86 and shaft |85 to rotate and actuate the movement of crank |88 and cut-off pin 590.

This `operation is illustrated in Figure 8, which shows the Wire cutter clutch engaged and the rst step of the cutting operation has been ac' cornplished, linger 208 having been advanced into the bundle of wire W and vselected one strand therefrom, and Figure l0 illustrates the next movement, where said wire strand has been Adrawn inwardly by finger 208 against cut-off blade |80 and severed.

Secured to Ia member' He is another solenoid 209. having lever arm 2|0 fulcrumly attached to the moving part of said olenoidat 2||. At its lower end, said lever arm 2|0 is rockably attached to brace 2|2 the latter being secured to said member 16. At its upper end, lever -arm 2|0 has attached thereto one end of a bar 2|3 carrying lingerv 2li a't its oppositeend. Also secured to lever arm 2|0 is spring 2|5 carried on pin '2|6 ,having clevis 2|1 at one end attached to lever arm 2|0A and secured to said member |16 'at its opposite end, said spring being adapted solenoid or in other words the carrying nger 2|4 in retracted position when the solenoid is de-energized.

Figure lo illustrates the extended nger 2| 4 about to engage the strandof wire which has just been severed from bundle W'.

'Ihe finger` has been moved forward` by solenoid 209 acting y yto push lever arm 2| 0 outwardly away from saidv adapted to be raised by said thrustor. Secured 75 to said pins 223 at their upper ends is a crossbar 224, adapted when raised by said thrustor to act against bar 228 and raise cross-bar 225 attached to rods 226 and 221 which operate toggle 222. Pins 226 and 221 are attached at their lower ends to yoke 229 of sleeve 230, the latter being slidably mounted on shaft 23| Secured to the lower end of sleeve 230 are toggle links 232 secured to toggle arms 233 and at the opposite end of said links there being four such toggle arms. At their upper ends, the toggle arms 233 are fulcrumly mounted to members |16 by plates 234. At their lower ends said toggle arms 233 are bent to form the bundle carrying members 235, said toggle arms being bent outwardly at substantially right angles when disposed in a bundle supporting position. At the outer edge of said members 235 are the rollers 236 adapted to ride on the circular guide member 231, the latter being secured to members I and la by means -of machine bolts 238.

Mounted above sleeve 230 on shaft 23| is a coiled spring 239 adapted to normally keep the toggle arms 233 in an outwardly disposed bundle supporting position when said arms 233 are not withdrawn or collapsed by action of the thrustor 22|.

When a sufficient or predetermined amount of wire has accumulated on block 2|, best seen diagrammatically in Figure 22, and after the wire has been severed as has been described, then thrustor 22| is energized and acting through pins 223, bar 228 and rods 226 and 221, raises sleeve 230 against the spring 239. The sleeve 230 in moving upward raises links 232 and pulls toggle arms 233 inwardly. This allows the severed bundle of wire W to drop by gravity on a wire receiver 240 mounted on a carrier or truck 24|, the latter preferably adapted to be moved along rails 242.

As soon as the severed bundle of wire has been discharged from said machine, thrustor 22| is de-energized and compressed spring 239 forces said toggle arms into their normal bundle supporting position.

Secured to members |16 and immediately below the stationary plate |18 are electrical contact rings 243, 244 and 245 suitably insulated from said members |16 by any well known insulating material 246. Secured to plate |18 are brush contact holders 241, 248 and 249 insulated from said plate by an insulating material 246', said holders 241, 248 and 249 adapted for continuous brush' contact relation with the revolvable rings 243. 244 and 245, respectively, as shown. Mounted preferably on member la is an adjustable revolution counter 250 and a time relay 25|.

The operation of the wire cut-oif or severing means and the bundle discharging mechanism depends on the weight or length of wire required to be drawn. These requirements are initially calculated to the number of revolutions necessary to be made by block 2| to draw the solenoid |91 is caused to operate as has been described, thus causing clutch |81 to operate and make one complete revolution, and stop. The operation of clutch' |81 acting through crank |88 causes the wire cut-olf mechanism to function.

Immediately following the time of wire cut-01T, the time relay 25| starts a second time relay 25 la to close a switch which holds on for a. predetermined length of time. This switch energizes ring 245 to which switch 252 and thrustor 22| are connected.

Thrustor. 22| is thereby energized and is caused to operate as has been described, causing sleeve 230 to withdraw the four holding arms 233 inwardly, thus allowing the severed bundle of wire to drop by gravity. 'Ihis operation takes approximately from 11/2 to 2 seconds.

Meanwhile switch 252 is closed momentarily, causing solenoid 209 to operate. The operation of solenoid 209 causes the notched bar 2|4 to more over the wire which has been drawn in and is just at the cut-oi point.

Switch 252 is opened by the movement of the cut-off blade |90, thus de-energizing solenoid 209 and allowing spring 2 5 t`o return notched bar 2 4 to its normal position, thereby bending the severed end of wire W around the flange of onev channel |16 during its return movement.

The cut-off blade |90 continues to the end of its stroke and advances until switch 252 is closed and open again thus'causing a repeat operation of solenoid 209, which releases the bent wire from notched bar 2|4.

The bundle holding arms 233 being retracted and the wire out, the severed bundle is free to drop on the bundle receiver 240.

When this takes place the time relay 25| then breaks the circuit to ring 245, which stops the motor, not shown, in thrust or 22|, dropping piston 253 thereof to its normal position, spring 239 then acting to force the toggle arms 233 outwardly to their normal bundle supporting position.

In the meantime block 2|, as well as the other drawing blocks, continue to revolve and draw Wire, the entire process being continuous and not ceasing while the cutting-off and bundle discharging operations take place.

As long as the same weight of wire is required,

or same length of a given gauge, one setting of the revolution counter is all that is required. No change is required for given lengths of wire regardless of the gauge.

Inasmuch as tables may be prepared showing the arrangement shown for stopping certain blocks in case of wire breakage.

It will be obvious, also, that the mechanism shown in association with the wire drawing blocks may be applied also to wire pulling blocks, such for example, as those used in Wire galvanizing or coating take up units where the wire is not reduced in size and consequently does not pass thru drawing dies. y

To avoid a surplusage of wording in the claims,

reference will be made to the term main wire body. By this will be meant the wire, or that part of the wire, which is attached to, or a part of, the wirecoming from the reels, or from a preceding drawing block or other source.

' In the following claims the expression amount of wire refers to length or weight of wire or both in a broad sense,- and is used to avoid a multiplicity of claims. For clarity and simplification it will be understood that reference to wire drawing systems, or blocks, includes wire drawing dies, power mechanism and the usual ordinary appendages of apparatus used for wire drawing.

, The inverted block, per se, is not claimed, as it is'recognized as old in the art.

What I claim is: v I

1. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a rotatable wire drawing block, means for rotating, said block, wire severing means rotatable with said block adapted to sever wire thereon during rotation thereof and means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire body.

2. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a rotatable wire drawing block, means for rotating said block, wire severing means rotatable with said block adapted to sever wire thereon during rotation thereof, means for actuating said severing means `at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of sev-l ered wire are produced from said main wire body and means for automatically discharging said wire amounts from said block upon severance from said main wire body.

3. In a continuous wire drawing vmachine adapted to draw wire from -a main wire body comprising a plurality of inverted rotatable wire` drawing blocks, means for rotating said blocks, wire severing means rotatablev with one of said blocks adapted to sever wire thereon during rotation thereof and means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main Wire body.

4. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a plurality of inverted rotatable wire drawing blocks, means for rotating said blocks, wire severing means rotatable with one of said blocks adapted to sever wire thereon during rotation thereof, means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire body and means for automatically discharging said wire amounts from said block upon severance from said mainwire body.

5. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a series of inverted wire drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, means for rotating said blocks, wire severing means rotatable with the final block of said series adapted to sever wire on said block from said main wire body during rotation thereof and means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire bo'dy.

6. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a series of inverted wire drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, means for rotating said blocks, lwire severing means rotatable with the final block of said series p adapted to sever wire on saidbl'ock from said main wire body during rotation thereof, means 'aoaaaoo said wire amounts from said final block upon severance from said main wire body.

`'7. In a continuous Wire drawing. machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a series of superimposed wirek drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, means for rotating said blocks, wire severing means rotatably with the final block of said series adapted to sever wire on said block from said main wire body during rotation thereof and means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire body.

8. In la continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a series of 'superimposed wire drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, means for rotating said blocks, wire severing means rotatable with the final block of said series adapted to sever wire on said block from said 'main wire body during rotation thereof, means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals wherebypredetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire body and means Afor automatically discharging said wire amounts from said nal block upon severance from said main wire body.

. 9. A wire pulling apparatus comprising a rotatable wire pulling block adapted to pull -wire from a main wire body, means for rotating said block, wire measuring. means associated with said block, wire severing means rotatable withl said block, and means operable during the operation of said block for successively actuating said measuring means and said severing means whereby a predetermined amount of wire is severed from said main wire body. y l

. 10. A wire pulling apparatus comprising a rotatable wire pulling block adapted to pull wire from a main wire body, means forrotating said block, wire measuring means associated with said block, wire severing means rotatable with said block, means operable during the operation of said block for successively actuating said measuring means and said severing means whereby a predetermined amount of wireis severed from said main wire body and means for 'automatically discharging said severed amount from saidv block.

11. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a wire drawing block, driving means for said block, wire severing means associated with said block adapted to sever wire thereon during operation thereof, means for actuating said severing means predeterminedly whereby a predetermined amount of wire is severed from said main wire body and means for releasably attaching to said blo'ck the end of the severed wire forming apart of said main wire body.

12. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a wire drawing block, driving means for said block, wire severing means associated with said block adapted td sever wirerthereon during operation thereof, means for actuating said severing means predeterminedly whereby a predetermined amount of wire is severed from l said main wire body, means for releasably atfor discharging from said block said predetermined severed amount of wire.

vtaching to said block the end of the severed wire lforming a part of said main wire -body and means 13. A continuous wire drawing system adapted to draw wir from a main wire body comprising a series of inverted wire drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, means for maintaining wire tension on certain of said blocks, automatic speed changing means associated with said tensioning means for controlling the rate of speed of certain of said blocks, means for stopping said series of blocks when said wire breaks, wire severing means associated with the nal block of sai'd series adapted to sever wire thereon during operation thereof and means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined ,amounts of severed wire are produced from said main Wire body.

14. A continuous wire drawing system adapted to draw wire from a main wire body comprising a series of inverted wire drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, means for maintaining wire tension on certain of said blocks, automatic speed changing means associated with said tensioning means for controlling the rate of speed of certain of said blocks, means for stopping said series of blocks when said wire breaks, wire severing means associated with the final block of said series adapted to sever wire thereon during operation thereof, means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire body and means for discharging said wire amounts from said block upon severance from said main wire body.

15. A continuous wire drawing system adapted to draw wire from a main Wire body comprising a series of inverted wire drawing blocks adapted to revolve about a common shaft, lmeans for maintaining wire tension on certain of said blocks, automatic speed changing means associated with said tensioning means for controlling the rate of speed of certain of said blocks, means for stopping said blocks upon wire breakage, wire severing means associated with the nal block of said series adapted to sever wire thereon during operation thereof, means for actuating said severing means at predetermined intervals whereby predetermined amounts of severed wire are produced from said main wire body, means for releasably securing to said final block the severed end of said wire forming a part of said main wire body, and means for discharging from said final block the wire amounts severed from said main wire body.

16. In a continuous wire pulling system comprising a rotatable block adapted to pull wire from a main wire body, wire severing means rotatable with and controllable by said block adapted for severing wire on said block from said main wire body and means for actuating said severing means during said pulling operation of said block.

17. In a continuous wire pulling system comprising a rotatable block adapted to pull wire' from a main wire body, wire severing means rotatable with and controllable bysaid block adapted for severing wire on said block from said main wire body, means for actuating said sever-A ing means during said pulling operation of said block and means for automatically discharging said severed wire from said block during said pulling operation.

18. In a continuous wire pulling system comprising a block adapted to pull wire from a main wire body, wire severing means associated with said block adapted for severing wire on said block from said main wire body, means for actuating said severing means during said pulling operation of said block and means for releasably attaching to said block the end of the severed wire forming a part of said main wire body.

19. In a continuous wire pulling system comprising a block adapted to pull wire from a main wire body, wire severing means associated with said block adapted for severing wire on said block from said main wire body, means for actuating said severing means during said pulling operation of said block, means for releasably attaching to said block the end of the severed wire forming a part of said main wire body and means for discharging said severed wire from said block during said pulling operation,

20. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted for drawing wire from a main wire body, in combination, a support, a shaft mounted in said support, a series of wire drawing blocks rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said blocks, a wire carrier supported by the nal of said blocks, wire severing means rotatable with and controllable by said iinal block. and means for actuating said severing means during drawing operation of said block whereby severed wire from said main wire bod is disposed on said wire carrier.

21. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted for drawing wire from a main wire body, in combination; a support, a shaft mounted in said support, a series of wire drawing blocks rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said blocks, a wire `carrier supported by the final of said blocks, a wire bundle discharging mechanism on saidcarrier, wire severing means rotatable with and controllable by said final block, means for actuating said severing means during drawing operation of said block whereby severed wire from said main wire body is disposed on said wire carrier and means for automatically actuating said bundledischarging mechanism in timed relation to the actuation of said severing means whereby the severed wire is discharged from said carrier.

22. In a continuous wire drawing vmachine adapted for drawing wire from a main wire body,

in combination, a support, a shaft mounted in said support, a series of Wire drawing blocks rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said blocks, a wire carrier supported by the final of said blocks, wire severing means associated with said nal block, means for actuating said severing means during drawing operation of said block whereby severed wire from said main wire body is disposed on said wire carrier and means for releasably attaching to said final block the end of the severed wire forming a part of said main wire body.

23. In a continuous wire drawing machine adapted for drawing wire from a main wire body, in combination, a support, a shaft mounted in said support, a series of wire drawing blocks rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for rotating said blocks, a wire carrier supported by the final of said blocks, a wire bundle discharging mechan'sm on said carrier, wire severing meansiassociated with said final block, means for actuating said severing means during drawing operation of, said block whereby severed wire from said main wire body is disposed on said wire carrier, means for releasably attaching to said nal block the ,end

of the severed wire forming a part of said main 

